German official: No decision yet made on whether to question Snowden over NSA surveillence

BERLIN – Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff says the government has not yet decided whether it will try to question NSA leaker Edward Snowden in connection with a Parliamentary inquiry into surveillance by the United States.

Peter Altmaier spoke Friday after German media widely reported on a leaked government recommendation to be given to Parliament later in the day advising against bringing Snowden to Germany for questioning.

Among other things, the German news agency dpa and others reported the draft government response indicated Merkel's administration fears negative legal and political repercussions for Germany if Snowden testifies before Parliament.

Altmaier rejected those reports as "insinuation" in an interview with RBB radio, saying "there are many possibilities on how to question Snowden — a decision over modalities has not yet been made."